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SP H of l\‘Ii'.Wi~:i3s'i*r;n, upon the f1’ariflfi‘.
Deliver-ed in the House qfliepresenlafices Q/'
the United States, April, 1824.
j\In_ Cu_.uR;\,1_.iN: [will avail myselfofthe
present occasion to make some remarks on
‘certain principles and opinions which have
been recently advanced, -arid on those consid-
crations which, in my jiidgemeflb ought ‘O
govern us iir deciding uporrthe several and re-
spective parts ofthis very important and com-
plex measure. I can truly say that tlrrs is a
paiirful duty. I deeply regret the iiccessity,
_which is likely to be imposed upon_me,ot giv-
ing a general affirmative or neg'dl|VC V016 00
the whole of the bill. I cannot but think this
‘tn tle of proceeding liable to great objections.
It exposes both those who support, and those
who oppose, the measure, to very unjust and
injurious inisapprclrensioirs. There maybe
good reasons for favoring some ofthe provi-
sions of the Bill, and eqrrally strong_ reasons
for opposing others; aird these provisions do
not stand to each other in the relation Of
principal and incident. Iftlrat \.\'cr.c the case,
those who wcrein favor of the principal might
forego their opiirioiisiipoii iircideiital and sub-
ordinateprovisions. Butthe bill propiiscs en-
actments entirely distinct, and different from
one auotlrcr,iir clraractcraad tcndcircy. Sonic
ofits clauses are intenilcd merely for revenue;
and, of those which regard the protection of
home inannfzrcliircs, one part stands upon ve-
ry tliffeieiit grounds from those of otlrcr parts.
So that probably evcry Gentleman who may
ultimately support the bill will vote for nrucli
which his judgement does not approve ; and
those who oppm,~e it will oppose soirrctlring
which they would very gladly support. _
Being entrusted with the interests ofa Dis-
iricr lllgdlly comnrercial, and deeply interest-
ed in inairtifactitrcs also, I wish to state my
opinions on the present nreasiire; irot as on it
whole, for it has no entire aird lririirtigciioits
clraracter; but as on a collection of different
enactments, some of which incetmy approba-
tion, aird some of which do not.
And allow me, sir, in the first place, to state
my regret, ifindced I ought not to express a
warindr scrrtirnerrt, at the irairrcs, or designa-
iiorrs,wlriclr r‘~'.lr. Speaker has seen fit to adopt,
for the purpose of describing the. advocates
and the opposcrs of the preserrt_Bill. It is a
question, he says, between the frreuds.of _an
“ Aiircrican policy,” and those of_a “ l0='f3l£3"
policy.” This, sir, is air assiimptiorr which I
take his liberty most directly to. tlCt_i_V.. _M|'-
_-‘_,,c;,1;c_r cert-.iirrly iirtcndedirotliiirg invidioiis
cr ilcrogzrtory to any partof the l:loi.isc by this
mode of denoirriiiating friends aird crremics.
1;”, mere is power iir nanrcs, aird this manner
of distiirgiiislririg those who favor and those
who oppose particular iucasiircs, may leutl l0
infcrerrces to whiclr no member of tlic .I'It.?tlSe
It may imply that there is a
more exclusive and peculiar regard to Amer-
ican interests in one class of opinions than in
another. Such an implication is to be resist-
ed and repelled. Every irrember has a right
to the presumption, that lle'[llll'5l.lC5 What he
believes to be the interest of his country, with
as sincere a zeal as airy other lllE3.tl‘rlJ€l'. I
claim this in my own 0350; flllflli ‘Vlllle I -‘hall
not, for any purpose of descriptron,or conven-
ient ?ll‘l‘2tll.',L£‘fll6lll, use terms which may_ uri-
ly airy disrespect to otlrer.merr’s opipions,
mputations of other men s inn-_
mics, ii is my duty to take care that the use of
such terms by others be not, against the \Vlll
of those who adopt tlieirr, tirade to produce a
false iinpressioir. Indeed, sir, it is a liytle as-
icn'rshiug,ifit scented convenienttoMr.t~peak-
ct, for the purposes afdistinctioir, to iriakc use
ofthe terms “Ainerican policy,” and f‘ foreign
policy,” that he should not have applied them
in a manner precisely the reverse of that in
which he has in fact used them. If nzrines
are ‘hot, ,,Cce35.,,,»y, it would be well ciioiiglr,
one would think, that tlie_,iipine should be, in
some me,,S,,,.e, deSc,.;pti“e.irf' the. thing; and
since Mr. Speaker denonrinates the policy
u-hich he rccoinnrends “ a new policy in this
c,ouutry',” since he speaks ofthe pieseirt meas-
:i in our legislation; since he
professes to invite us to depart from our accus-
tomed course, to instruct ourselves by the.w‘.s-
tlom of others, and to adopt the policy of the
most distiiigriislicd foreign states, one is a lit-
do Cmious ic know with what p.roprr.ety of
speech this imitation of other nationsis de-
nominated an “ .-Xmerican policy,” while, on
the contrary, :1 prei'ereirce for our own estab-
lished system, as it now actually 'exists,.and.
always has existed,is called a “foreign policy.”
This favorite American policy is what Ainer-
ica has never tried ; and this odious foreign
fiolicy is what, as we are told, foreign states
have never pursued. Sir, that is the truest
Airrerican policy which shall most usefully
cmyloy American labor, and Ainericau cap-
ital, and best sustain the whole popula_tion.—
W'ith me it is a fundaiircntal axiom, it is in-
ierwoven with all my opinions, that the great
interests of the country are united and insep-
Ct".,tl)l(‘, ; that agriculture, commerce, and man-
ufactures, will prosper togethcr,_or languislr
together; and that all iegrslzitroiris dangcrgous
which proposes to benefit one of. these with-
out looking to consequences rvlriclr may fall
on the others.
i’;issiiig from this, sir, I am bound to say
tlr:-it Mr. Speaker began his able and impres-
sirc speech at the proper poiirt ofinqiiiry; I
inczrn the yin-serif stale and coiiifilzoit of tlic
€0lL7lfI‘_./.' altlrongli I am so trrrfortunate, or
rather altliongh I am so happy, as to differ
from him very widely in regard to that condi-
tiou. I dissi-.nt eirtirely from thcjustice of
that picture of distress which he has drawri.
I have not seen the reality, and know irot
can submit.
much less any i
‘ . where it exists. Witlriir my observation there
is no cause for so gloomy and terrifying a
represeirtatioii. In respect to the New Birg-
larrd states, with the condition of which Iain
of course, iirost acquainted, the present ap-
pears to tire a period of very general prosperi-
ty. Not, indeed, a time for great profitsaiitl
sudden acquisition ; not it day of cxti'aordii:a-
ry activity and successful speculation. There
is, nodoubt, a coiisiderable depression of pri-
’.1t"F_,'¢1l)(l, in some degree, a stagnation oi busi-
trcss. But the case presented by Mr. .‘:':peak-
or was irot one of depression, but of distress ;
ofuiriversal, pervading, intense distress, limi-
ted to no class, aird to no place. We are rep-
reseuted as on the very verge and brink of
national rtiin. So far from acquiesciirg in
these opinioirs, I believe there has been nope.-
riod in which the general prosperity was bet-
ter secured. or rested on a irrore solid fourrda-
tion. As applicable to the Ezisterir states, I
put this rcnrark to their Representatives, and
sisktlienr if it is not true. Wlrcn has there
can as time in wlriclr the means of living have
is
been more accessible and more abundant .9
wlie_n labor was rewarded, I do not say with a
larger, but with a more certain success? Pro-
fits, indeed, are low ; in some pirrsiiits of life,
which it is not proposed to benefit, but to biir-
den, by this bill, very low. But still Iani tin-
acquainted with any proofs of extraordinary
distress. What, indeed, are the general iridi-
cations ofthe state ofthe country? There is
no famine nor pestilence in the land, nor war,
nor desolation. There is no writhing under
the burtheuof taxation. The means of sub-
sistence are abundant ; and at the very ino-
ineirt when the miserable condition of the
country is asserted, itis admitted that the wa-
gcs oflabor are lrigli,iii comparison with those
of any other country. A country, then, cu-
joying a profound peace, a perfect civil liber-
ty, with the means ofsubsistencc cheap and
abundant, with the reward oflabor sure, and
its wages higher than any wfiere else, cannot
be represented in gloom, melanclioly, and
distress,biit by the effort ofextraordiiiary pow-
crs of tragedy.
Even if, in judging ofthis question,we were
to regard only ilrose proofs to which we have
been referred, we shall probably come to a,
has been drawn. Our exports, for example,
although certainly less than in some year’,
were not,last_year, so mtrch below air average
formed tipoii the exports of :1 series ofyears,
and putting those exports at a fixed value, as
might be supposed. The exports of agricul-
tural products, of animals, ofthe products of
the forest, ofthe sea, together with gunpow-
der, spirits, aird sundry uneiriiirrerated arti-
cles, amounted, in the several years, to the
i'ollowin«_: sums, viz. In 1790, $27,716,152;
1804-, 83,842,316; 1807, 33,'lfi5,85'1.
Coirring up, now, to our own times, and ta-
king the exports of the years 1321, 1892, and
182;}, ofthe same articles aird products,at the
same prices, they stand thus: In 1821, S45,-
6'f.'3,l7.’1; I822,-18,789,295 ; 18°13, 55_.8fi.‘3,49l.
Mr. Speaker has taken the very extraordi-
nary year of 1803, and, adding to the expor-
tation of that year, what he thinks ought to
have been a just aiignieirtatioir, in proporiiorr
to the increase ofoiir popul:ition,he swells the
rcsult to a inagnitude, which when compared
with our actual exports, would exhibit a great
deficiency. in! is there any justice in this
mode of calculation? In the first place, as
before observed, the year 1803 was a year of
cxtraoriliiiary exportaiioir. By reference to
the accounts, that of the article of flour, for
cxaniple, there was an export that ‘year of
1,300,000 bzrrrcls; but the very next year it
fell to 800,000, and the next year to 700,000.
In the next place, there never was any reason
to expect that the increase of our exports of
agricultural products, would keep pace with
ilre increase of our population. That would
be againstall experience. It is, indeed, iriost
desirable, that there should be an augurented
demand for the products ofagriculttire; but,
ireverthelcss,tlre official i'ctii'.ns ofour exports
do not sliuw that absolute want iifall foreign
urarkcr, which has been so strongly stated.
Int there are other iircairs by \\ hicli tojudge
ofthe general conditioir of the people. The
quantity ofthe rrieans of siibsisteircc corrsum-
cd; or, to make use ofa phraseology better
suited to the condition ofoiir own people, the
quantity ofthe coniforts of life cn_joycd,is one
ofthosc means. It so happens, indeed, that
it is not so easy in this country, as elsewlrere,
to ascertuiir facts, ofthis sort, with accuracy.
lVhei'e most of the articles of strbsistcncc,and
most of the comforts of life are taxed, there
is, of course, great facility in ascertainirig.
from official statements, the amount of coir-
suirrptioii. But, in this country, most fortu-
natcly, the Government neither knows, nor is
corrccrired to kuoiv, the annual consrimption ;
and estimates can only be for-incil in another
iirode, and in reference only to a few articles.
Of these articles, tea is one. Its use is not
quite a luxury, and yet is something above the
absolute necessaries of life. Its consumption,
therefore, will be diininished in times of ad-
versity, and augmented in times of prosperity.
By deducting the annual export froitr the an-
nual iinport, and taking a number of years
togetlrer,we may arrive at a probable estimate
of coirstiinption. The average of 11 years,
from 1790, to 1300, inclusive, will be found to
be two millions and a half ofpoirnds. From
1301 to 181%}, iirclrisive, 3,700,000; and the
average ofthe last years, to wit: 1821, 18291
and 189.3, five millions and a half. Ilaviug
made ajust allowance for the iircreasc of our
nuirrbers,we shall still find, I tliink,from these
statements, that there is no distress whicli has
limited our means of subsistence and enjoy-
ment. _ In forming an opiirioir of the de-
gree of general prosperity, we may regard,
likewise, the progress of internal improve-
ments——thc_ investment of capital in roads,
bridges, and cairals. All these prove a bal-
ance of income over expenditures; they are
evidence that there is snrpliis of protits,wliich
the present generation is usefully vesting for
the benefit of thencxt. It cannot be denied
that in this particular,the progress ofthe couri-
try is steady and rapid.
\Ve may look, too, to the expenses of edu-
cation. Are our Colleges deserted ? Do fa-
thers fiiid themselves less able than usual to
educate their children? It will be found, I
imagine, that the amount paid for the purpose
of education, is constantly increasing, and
that the schools and colleges were never more
full than at the present iiioirieiit. I nray add
that the endowment of public clraritics, the
contributions to objects of general benevo-
lence, whether foreign or domestic, the irrit-
nificence of individuals towards ivlr.'.-.tever
promises to benefit the comiunnity, are all so
many proofs of iratioiral prosperity. Arid, fi-
nally, there is no defalcation of revenue, no
presstire of taxation‘.
The general result therefore, ofa fair exa-
mination of the present condition of things,
seeirrs to tire to be, that there is a considerable
dcpress'ion of prices, and curtailineut ofprof’;
and, in sonre parts of the coiin-try, it must be
admitted, there is at great degree of pecuniary
i=.inbar‘r‘assrnent, arising from the (lifticiilty of
paying debts which were contracted when
prices were high. \Vith these qualifications,
the general state of the country may be said
to bc prosperous; and these are not sufficient
to give to the whole face of affairs any ap-
pearance of general distress.
Supposing the evil, then, to be a depression
of prices, and a partial pecuniary pressure,
the next inquiry is into the causes of that e-
vil; and it appears tome that there are sever-
al——and, in this respect, I tiiiiik,too intich has
been iriipiited, by Mr. Speaker, to the single
coucliision somewhatdifl'erent from that which
cause ofthe diirriiriitioirofexports. Connect-
ed, as we are, with all the commercial nations
of‘ "tire i'v'or‘lci, and lraviiig observed ‘great chan-
ges to take place elsewhere, we should ‘con’-
sider whether the causes oftliesechanges have
not reached us, and whether we are not suffer-
ing by the operation of those causes, in com-
inoir with others. Undoubtedly, there has
been a great fall in the price of all commodi-
ties throughout the commercial world, in con-
sequence ofa restoration ofa state ofpeace.
When the Allies entered France in 1814, pri-
ces rose astonishingly fast and very high.——.
Colonial produce, for instance, in the ports of
this country, as well as elsewhere, sprimg up
suddenly from the lowest to the highest ex-
treme. A new and vast demand was created
for the commodities of trade. These were
the natural consequences ofthe great political
changes which then took place in Europe.
\Ve are to consider, too, that our own war
created new demand, and that a Government
expenditure of 25,000,000, or 30,000,000 :1
year, had the iistial effect ofeirhancing prices.
We are obliged to add, that the paper issues
of our Banks carried the same effect still fur-
ther. A depreciated currency existed in a
great part ofthe country; depreciated to such
an extent as that, at one tiiue, exchange _be-
tween the centre and the north, was as high
as 20 per cent. The causes which it is not
necessary now to enumerate, it did not for
some years, bring back the currency of the
coiiirtry to a sound state. This depreciation
ofthe circulating currency, was so much, of
course, added to the nominal prices of com-
motlilies, and these prices thus uniratiirally
high, seemed, to those who looked only at the
appearance, to iirdicate great prosperity.-
But such prosperity is more specious than rc-
al. It would have been better, probably, "15
the shock would have been less, if prices hail
fallen sooner. At length, however, they fell;
and, as there is little doubt that certain eveirts
in Europe had an influence in dcteriniiring
she time at which this fall should take place,
I will advert shortly to some of the principal
of those events.
Iir May, 1819, the British House of Corri-
inons decided, by an unanimous vote, that the
resiiiiiptioir of cash payineirts by the Batik of
England, should not be deferred beyond the
ensuing February. The restriction had been
continued from time to time, and from year
to year, Parfiauient always professing to look
at the restoration ofa specie ctirrency, “hen-
evcr it should be found practicable. Having
been, in July, 1818, continued to July, 1810,
it was unclerstood that, in theinteriiii, the iin-
portant question of the time at which cash
payments should be resunrcd, should be final-
ly settled. In the latter part ofthe year US,
the ciri-iilation ofthe Batik had been greatly
reduced, am! a severe scarcity of money was
felt in ilrc London market. Such was the
state ofthings in Englaird. On the. contin-
cut, other important events took place. The
I"rench Iudeiiirrity Loan had been negotiated
in the siimirrer of 1818, and the propoi tioii of
ii belonging to Austria, Russia, and Prussia,
had been sold. This created air uiiusiial de-
iuaiid for gold and silver in these Eastern
States ofEirropc. It has been stated, that
the amount ofthe precious iuctals transrnittcd
to Austria and Iliissia iir that year, was at
least twenty millions sterling. Other large
stuns were sent to I’riissia and to Deiiinark.
The effect ofthis sudden drain of specie,
was felt first at Paris, was communicated to
Anrsterdain and llamburg, and all other
comiircrcial places in the north of Europe.
The paper system of England had certain-
ly coinmunicated air artificial value to prop-
erty. It had encouraged speculation, and
excited overtrading. When the shock there-
fore came, and this violent presstire for iiroiicy
acted at the satire inotiieiit on the coritiireut
and in England, inflated and uniratural prices
could be kept up no longer. A reduction
took place, which has been estimated to have
been at least equal to a fall of 30, if notforty
per cent. The depression was uiriveisal ;
and the change was felt in the United States
severely, though not equally so in every part
oftliem. There are those,-I am aware, who
maintain that the events to which I have al-
luded did not catisc the great fall of prices;
but that that fall was natural and inevitable,
from the previously existing state of things,
the abundance of comnrodities, and the want
ofdciiiaird. But that would only prove that
the effect was produced in another way,rathcr
than by another cause. If these great and
sudden calls for money did not reduce prices,
but prices fell, as of themselves, to their nat-
ural state, still the result is the same; for we
perceive that after these calls for money pri-
ces could not be kept longer at their unnatur-
al height.
About the time ofthese foreign events,our
owir bank system underweirt a change; and
all these causes,in my view of the subject,
coirciirrcil to produce the great shock which
took place in oirr cominercial cities, and thro’
many parts ofthe country. The year 1819
was a year of iriimerous failiircs, and very con-
siderable distresscs, and would have furnislied
far better grounds than exist at present, for
that gloomy representation of otir condition
which has been presented. Mr. Speaker has
alluded to the strong inclination which exists,
or has existed, in various parts of the cotiirtry
to issue paper iironey, as ti proof of great ex-
isting diffictrlties. I regard it rather as a very
productive cause of those difficulties; and the
committee will not fail to observe, that there
is, at this momcnt,iniich the loudest complaint
of distress precisely where there has been the
greatest attempt to relieve it by systerirs of
paper credit. And,onthe other hand, con-
tent, prosperity, and happiness, are mostob-
servablc in those parts ofthe coimtry, where
there has been the least endeavor to ad-minis.
ter reliefby law. In truslr,uothiugis so barre-
fiil, so utterly ruinous to all trite iirdustry, as
interfering with the legal value of money, or
attempting to raise artificial standards to stip-
ply its place. Such remedies suit well the
spirit of extravagant spcciilatioir, but they sap
the very foundation ofall honest acquisition.
By weakeniirg the security of property, they
take away all motive for exertion. Their ef-
fect is to transfer property. Whenever a debt
is allowed to be paid by any thing less valua-
ble than the legal currency in respect to which
it was contracted, the difl'erence, between the
value ofthe paper given in payment and the
legal currency, is precisely so innclr property
taken from one man and given to another, by
"legislative enactment. When we talk, there-
tore, ofproteciiirg industry, Iettis renreirrber
ilrat the first measure for that eird, is to secure
it in its earirings ; to assure it that it will re-
ceive its own. Before we invent new modes
of raising prices, let us take care that existing
,.prices'are not rendered wholly unavailable,
‘ bymaklngtlrem capable of being paid in de-
preciated. paper. lregard, sir, this issueof
irredeemable paper as the most prominent
and deplorable cause of whatever pressure
still exists in the country ; and, ftirther, I
would put that question to the members ofthis
committee, whether itisnot from part ofthe
people who have tried this paper system, and
tried it to their cost, that this Bill receives the
most carnestsiipport ? And I cairnot forbear
to ask, furtlrer, whether this support does not
proceed rather from a general feeling of un-
easiness under the present condition ofthiirgs,
than from the clear perception of any benefit
which the measure iiselfcarr confer? Is irot
all expectation of advantage centered in a sort
ofvague hope, that clrange may produce rc-
lief? Death certainly presses hardest, where
prices have been lorr-__v,est kept irp by artificial
means. They find the shock lightest, who
take it soonest; and I fully believe that, if
those parts ofthe country which uorv suffer
most, had not augmented the force of the
blow by deferring it, they would have now
been in a much better condition ihari they are.
VVe may assure ourselves, oirce for all, sir,
that there can be no such tlriirg as payment of
debts by legislation. \‘Ve may abolish debts
iirdced ; we may transfer property, by vision-
ary and violent laws. But we deceive both
ourselves aird ourconstitucnts, if we flatter, ei-
thcr ourselves or them, with the hope that
there isaiiy relief against whatever pressure
exists, but in ei-oiromy and industry. Tire
depression ofpriccs and the stagnation of hu-
siness, have been in truth the necessary resiilt
ofcircuiirstances. No government could pre-
vent them, and no government can altogether
relieve the people from their effect. I\’e had
enjoyed a day of extraordinary prosperity;
we had been neutral while the world was at
war, and had found a great demand for our
products, our navigation, and our labor. Vtfe
had no right to expect that that state ofthiugs
would continue always. With the return of
peace, foreign nations would struggle for
tlieinsclves, and enter‘ into competition with
us in the great objects ofpirrsiiit.
IVOW, sir, what is the remedy for existing
evils? what is the course of policy suited to
our actiral conditions? Certainly it is irot
otir wisdom to adopt any system that may be
offered to us without examination, and in the
blind hope that whatever c.’iaiigcs our condi-
tion may improve it. It is better that we slruuld
“ Bear those ills we have,
“Than fly to others that we know not of.”
VVe are boiiird to see that there is a fitness
and air aptitude in whatever inoasiires may
be recoiirincndcd to relieve the evils that af-
flict us; and before we adopt a system that
professes to make great alteratioirs, it is our
duty to look carefully to each leading interest
ofthe commiiirity, and see how. it may prof)-
ably be effected by our proposed legislation.
And, in the first place, what is the coirdi-
tion ofoiir commerce? Here we irriist clear-
ly perceive, that it is irot enjoying that rich
lrarvcst which fell to its fortune during the
continuance ofthe European wars. It has
been greatly depressed, and limited to small
profits. Still, it is elastic and active, and
seems capable of recovering itself in some
measure from its depression. The shipping
interest, also, has stiffercd scvercly, still nrore
severely, probably, than coinnierce. Ifany
thing should strike us with astonishment, it
is that the navigation of the United States
slrotild be able to sustain itself. I\'ithout any
government protection whatever, it goes a-
broad to challenge conrpetition with the whole
world ; and, in spite of all obstacles, it has
yet been able to inz.inrain 800,000 tons in the
employment of foreign trade. How, sir, do
the ship owners and navigators accomplisli all
this? How is it that they are able to meet,
and in some measure overcome, universal
competition ? Not, sir, by protection and
bounties; but by unwearicd exertion, by ex-
treme economy, by tmslrakeir perseverance,
by that manly and resolute spirit which relies
on itselfto protect itself. These causes alone
etrable American ships still to keep their ele-
ment, and shew the flag oftheir country in
distant seas. The rates of insurance may
teach us how thoroughly our ships are built,
and how skilfully and safely they are naviga-
ted. Risks are taken, as I learn, from the U.
States to Liverpool, at 1 per ceirt.; and from
the United States to Canton aird back, as low
as 3 per cent. But when we look at the low
rate of freiglit, and when we consider, also,
that the articles entering into the composition
ofa slrip,witb the exemption of'wood,are dear-
er here than in other countries, we cannot but
be irtterly surprised, that the shipping interest
has been able to sustain itselfat all. I need
riotsay that the navigation of the country is
essential to its honor, and its defence. Yet,
instead of proposing benefit for it in this hour
ofits depression, we propose by this measure
to lay upon it new and heavy burthcns. In
the discussion, the other day, ofthat provision
ofthe bill which proposes to tax tallow for the
benefit ofthe oil merchants and whaleinen,
we had the pleasure oflrearing eloquent elo-
ployed in the whale fishery, and strong state-
ments of its inrportance to the public interest.
But the same Bill proposes a severe «tax up-
on that interest, for the benefit of the iron
manufacturer and hemp grower. So that the
talloiv clrairdlers and soap boilers are sacrific-
ed to the oil merchants, in order that these a-
gain may coirtiibute to the iiranufacturers of
iron and the growers of hemp.
lfsuch be the state ofour cotnmerce and
navigation, what is the condition ofour borne
manufactures ?' How are they amidst the gen-
eral dcpressioir ? Do they need further pro-
tection ? and ifany, lroiv much? On all of
these points, wehave had much general state-
men-t, but little precise information, In the
very elaborate speech of Mr. Speaker, we are
not supplied with satisfactory grounds of}udg-
ing in these various particulars. Who pan
tell, from any thing yet before the Committee,
whether the proposeil duty be too high or too
low, on any one article? Geirileiiiaii tell us,
that they are in favor of domestic industry ;
so am I. They woitld give it protection : so
would I. Brit their all domestic iiidnstry is
not confined to nlHllllfztCilll'CS. The employ-
ments of agriculture, cornrneree, and naviga-
tion, are all branches of the same domestic
industry; they all furnish employment for
Alllel'l’.‘.2ln capital, and American labor. And
when the question is, whether new duties shall
be laid, for the purpose of giving further en-
couragement to particular inaniifziciiires, ev-
ery reasonable man must ask himself, both,
whether the proposed new euciiiir.igeiiir.nt be
necessary, and, wlicther it can be given with-
-out injustice to other branches of industry.
v
giums upon that portion of otir shipping em- -
, It is desirable to know, :rlso,somewliai ittore‘
distinctly, how the proposed means will pro-
duce the intended effect. One great object
proposed, for example, is, the increase of'tlie
home market for tlie‘consiiniption of agr-icu|-
tiiral products. This certainly is inticlr to be
desired ; but what provisions ofthe Bill are
expected wholly, or principally to produce
tlns, is not stated. I would not suggest that
soirreiiicrcase ofthe home market itriryifot
follow, from the adoption ofthis bill, but all
its provisioirs have not an equal tendency to
produce this effect. Those manufactiires
whicli employ rrrost labor, create of course,
most demand for articles of consumption ;—‘
and those create least, in the production of
which, capital and skill enter as the chiefin-
gredients of cost. I cannot, sir,takc this bill,-
merely because a Committee has recomiiiend-
ed it. I cannot espouse a side, and fight tiri-
der a flag. I wholly repel the idea, that we
{mist "Ike this law, or pass no law on the sub-
ject. What should hinder us from exercising-‘,:
our own jittlgiireirts irpon these provisions,
smgly and severally ? Who has the power to
Place U5: "T Why should we place ourselves, Ill
8 condition where we cannot give to every
measure, that is distinct and separate iir itself,»
a separate and distinct coirsirleration? Sir,
I presiiure no member of the Committee wilt
withhold his assent from what he thinks riulit,
until otlrcrs will yield their assent to wdrat
they thlnli WI'on_£_:. There are many things
in this Bill, acccptriblc probably to the gener-
al sense oftlre llouse. W lry slroirld notthese
provisions be passed as a law, and others left
to be decided upon their mvn i-rierits, as a ina-
jority ofthe llousc shall see fit ? To some
oftliese provisions, I am decidedly favor:rble
myself; to others, I have great olijertions;
and Islroiild have been very glad of an op-
portunity of giviirg my own vote distinctly on
propositions, which are, i.i their own nature,
essentially and siibstantially distinct from one
another. '
[Here Mr. VVebster went into a very long
argument to prove that the English govern-
nrcnt have set about reforming their r'estrict-
ive system, and that their course is supported
by their ablest Sfilleslnt-‘l1——ll fact which Mr,
Clay had denied. He also spent nriich time
in exanrining the doi-triucof the “ balance of
trade,” and in replying to the arguments of
sortie gcntlemeir respecting the rate of ex-
change, and the exportation of specie. His
remarks on these several points would occupy
ten coluirrns of our paper, and for this reason
we are compelled to omit them for the pres-
ent, flllll(Jll,LZll they are by no means the least.
interesting part ofthe spccclr. They do not
bear (ff)'6Cff_”f] upon the meritsoftlic iiraiir ques-
tion. and can be inserted by themselves at a
nrorc convenient tinre.l -
(To be coizfimtcd.)
BRA7.ll'..———B_V the arrival ofthe Spartan, at
Alexairilria, we have advices, that on the £‘.;'itlr
oflast March, the I3 ‘azilian Coustiiutioii was
sworir to, at-Ilio dc J.-inciro, by the l-Emperor‘,
and the Heads offioveriinieiit Dopartrziciris.
In consc-qiience of this act, the Brzrziliair
Charge d’Affairs iii the U.S[21'ltlS,llftS t‘Cce‘ivcd
orders, ive understand, from his govmiriiiiint,
to make oailr to that instruirrent, before a pub-
lic magistrate of this City, and :lll8I‘\\'3l'i'lS to
receive the oath of every Brazilian citizen
resident in the U. States, to record the same
and to send to the Secretary of State, at Rio
de Janeiro, a copy, duly aiitlrenticated.
J'V'a£ional Intelf€geiicei'.
S..ivANi\*.iti_. June 10.
.S‘cvrre L’Iow’.--Our City yesterday was vis-
ited bctweeu 4 and 5 o’clock P. M. by a tre-
iriendiioiis gust of wind, accompanied with a
heavy fall ofrain and severe thunder 32. light-
ning, from W. N. IV. which continiied about
10 nriirutes. During the blow many fences
were prostrated, slate and tile torn from seve-
ral lioiiscs, and many of the largest trees blew
up by the roots. Such was the violence of
the wind that the sheet lead on the tops of
some buildings was completely stripped off
and carried to a considerable distance. In
were unroofed and 8 or seven chimneys blown
do_wn. Three negroes are said to be severely
l|l_}lll‘£'(l by the falling of the chimnies. The
of was to the shipping at Williamson’s, Tay-
l0l"5; and JONES’ wharves, which parted their
fasls and were driven iirto the stream. The
sails of several vessels that hung loose were
literally torn to atoms. The tide fortunately
ran tip whilst the wind was blowing dowir the
river, or more injury might have been done.
Tire Rev. Cutter Crawford, lying at anchor
was at one time in inriniuent danger from the
ship Clifford Wayne, which however, fortu-
nately was brouglrt to in time to prevent inju-
ry to the former. The steam boat Caroliirzi,
with the nortlrerir mail on board, which was
coming down the river, came very nigh being:
crushed to pieces by the vessels that went ak-
drift, only having time allowed her to get a-
long side the wharf.
New-Yonk, June 25.
about 300 tons of iron pipes for the Gas Light
Company, arrived below yesterday, after :1
long passage from Bristol. \Ve irnderstand
the preparaiiorrs for laying these pipes were
completed some time since, and it is probable
the work will comiueuce inrnrcdiati-.ly. Tliev.
are first to be laid in Broadway and Pear"!-sf.
Frmikliii. particitlzrrly endcavoreil to con-,
vince young persons, that no qualities are so
likely to make a poor mans fortune, as those.
of ji'ii~g'ali'ly and i'nfe_.g‘rz'f_i/. I was never dis-
conraged,says he, by the seeming iir.rgriiiirde9
ofiiry undertakings, as I have always tliouglit
that one man of tolerable abilities may worlz
great changes, and accomplislr great affairs
amorrg mairkind,if he first forms a gooil plan ;
and cutting off all amusements and employ-
nreuts, that would divert his atti‘_-ntion, inches
the execution of the satire plan, his sole study
and business. I
Hippocrates being sent f'or,to visit a patient
in Rhodes, and having felt his pulse, enquired
iirto the symptoms ofhis distemper; and find-
ing that it proceeded in a great degree from
the want ofsleep, advised_his patient with an
air of gravity, to be c'arried to Church to hear
a sermon, not iloubting, but that it would dis-
pose him for the rest he wanted,
A l)ll:)tlmI1l1 on leaving a company of la-
dies, said he was sure there was oirelpreseut
who had a‘-‘tine set'of' teeth, for she kept up a
icontinual laiigh for two’ hours.
., \
the upper part of the city two small houses.
greatest damage sustained that we have heard .
The British ship l\Iary, wbicli has on board «
Norwalk Chronicler